Nostalgia & History > Soo Line's Laker Consist: Winter, 1963

The Soo Line's Duluth-Chicago "Laker" was the nation's last all-heavyweight overnight passenger train. In its last years, it operated out of the Illinois Central Station in Chicago (it had previously been run to and from Grand Central).

In the winter of 1963, the Laker consist is being switched in the IC lakefront yards. From left, we can see a rebuilt coach, a Pullman sleeper, and--nearest the camera--the train's diner-club-lounge.

Brrrrrr. It's cold.

Art House

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aehouse Wrote:
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> The Soo Line's Duluth-Chicago "Laker" was the
> nation's last all-heavyweight overnight passenger
> train. In its last years, it operated out of the
> Illinois Central Station in Chicago (it had
> previously been run to and from Grand Central).
>
> In the winter of 1963, the Laker consist is being
> switched in the IC lakefront yards. From left, we
> can see a rebuilt coach, a Pullman sleeper,
> and--nearest the camera--the train's
> diner-club-lounge.
>
> Brrrrrr. It's cold.

Great photo!

Than diner-lounge ran on the rear so it could be removed at Fond du Lac, to return on the southbound train.

Soo's trains were often overlooked, but were clean and comfortable.
>
> Art House

Great photo, and also great that diner-lounge is a survivor.
The "2017" is at Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, WI.
and has been used in their dinner train and first class service.

At the very end of The Laker's operation it carried a lightweight 10RMT-6DBR car, leased from the PRR. But I guess it still was the last heavyweight train in the states in any event.

The sleeper in the last days was a PRR 10&5 actually leased from the Pullman Company because the car was under Pullman lease from the PRR.